Yoga, Sound, & Energy Healing for Cluster Headaches: Lexi's Story | Healing Heroines

Lexi, a perinatal therapist and mother of three, has lived with cluster headaches since adolescence. These headaches evoke intense, cyclical neurological pain for hours on end. 

In today’s Healing Heroine episode, Lexi, Hero Nicole Kim, and Chandler trace the long diagnostic journey, the limits of conventional care, and the ways energy-based practices helped Lexi notice early warning signs and soften the severity of her headaches.

Nicole and Lexi explore how consistent yoga, sound work, and Thai bodywork create impactful shifts in the nervous system. This episode is for anyone curious about integrating Western medicine with somatic practices to reclaim steadiness and agency in the midst of chronic pain.

What You Will Learn

• [00:08:57] How moving during COVID and juggling childcare, work, and a new community contributed to loneliness and stress in daily life.
• [00:13:00] Cluster headaches as a neurological condition tied to trigeminal nerve misfiring and hypothalamic/circadian rhythms, often presenting seasonally and with intense pain.
• [00:16:30] The lengthy diagnostic path — multiple specialists, imaging, and the moment Lexi self-identified her condition in college.
• [00:18:30] Acute treatments (triptan injections, oxygen, verapamil) can reduce pain quickly, but responses vary and some patients remain treatment-resistant.
• [00:20:30] Why Lexi became open to complementary approaches (nature, intranasal oils, emerging research like psilocybin) alongside medical care.
• [00:23:30] How connection with a practitioner — Nicole’s sequencing, intention, and presence — made somatic practices feel safe and effective for Lexi.
• [00:31:15] The experience of a palpable energy release during Thai bodywork that felt like a meaningful shift in tension and affect.
• [00:39:30] The value of tracking symptoms and responding early — combining Western tools with yoga, sound, and bodywork helped soften episodes and create more days of steadiness.

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Nicole Kim

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Chandler Stroud

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Mixing and editing provided by Next Day Podcast.

Transcript

[00:00:00] Chandler Stroud: Hey guys, it's Chandler and welcome to the Healing Heroes.

I'm Chandler Stroud, an executive wife and busy mom of two who after years of living with anxiety health struggles and an unshakeable feeling like I should be happier, made a profound discovery that changed everything. Join me on a journey where unexpected paths lead to healing and more happiness. On this show, we will explore [00:00:30] unconventional ways to unlock more joy in your own life.

With the help of my very own healers and trusted advisors, the healing heroes.

Welcome back to the show everyone. I'm your host Chandler, and we are back with another installment of the Healing Heroines conversations, which feature one of my very own heroes alongside a female client that they've helped heal after [00:01:00] experiencing hardship, tragedy, or trauma. Today's discussion features Hero Nicole, yoga teacher, sound healer, and Thai body work practitioner.

Alongside her client, Lexi, who has been on a powerful journey of healing through movement and energy practices. Over the past few years, Lexi has turned to Nicole's practices, not just for movement and wellness. But as support through real [00:01:30] challenges from managing cluster headaches and pregnancy to navigating the stress of building community in a new place while raising three little kids, her story is one of resilience, healing, and new ways to feel at home in her body and in her life.

Here's a little bit more about Lexi and her background before we get started for our listeners today. Lexi is a therapist who works primarily with the [00:02:00] perinatal population and has expertise with those who are facing reproductive health challenges as well as those who've experienced trauma. She's a mom to three little kiddos, a sweet pup, and too many plants.

Lexi is most proud of her personal titles, including mom, wife, daughter, sister, and friend. Now I've introduced Nicole on the show many times before, but for new listeners joining us today, let me share her bio for a [00:02:30] bit of added context for today's conversation. Nicole is dedicated to holistic healing and aspires to guide individuals to self-discovery and holistic wellbeing through the fusion of yoga.

Thai bodywork, the transformative power of energy and the resonant frequencies of sound healing while creating a space where both the body and spirit find restoration and balance. Ladies, thank you so much for being here today. I am very excited for today's [00:03:00] conversation. 

[00:03:01] Lexi: Oh, thanks for having us. It's great to be here.

Thank you. It's so nice to be here. Thank you. 

[00:03:06] Chandler Stroud: We are so excited to have you both, and Lexi, thank you so much again for coming on and being willing to share your story and more about your work with Nicole. Mm. I always love my conversations with Nicole because they're so multidimensional, being able, same to talk about these three powerful modalities.

So it'll be really cool to hear more from you who's worked with her in all [00:03:30] of those capacities. So very excited for today. Before we dive in to the meat of the conversation, let's do a few light warmup questions. So, Lexi, I'm gonna start with you. 

[00:03:41] Lexi: Okay. 

[00:03:42] Chandler Stroud: What is something bringing you joy or peace this week?

[00:03:46] Lexi: Yeah, so spoiler alert, I, I did something radical. I'm not in my home. I left to create some space for just a couple days, and it's not that my [00:04:00] home is, is not peaceful, but I'm in, I am in like an Airbnb cat. I'm in the woods. I'm in the woods. I needed to take a couple days and so I, I did it. I am 

[00:04:10] Chandler Stroud: so one jealous.

Mm-hmm. Two Proud of you. Three. So where is this Airbnb with the cool brick background. If you're watching on YouTube, it looks so zen. Like, take me with you. 

[00:04:22] Lexi: Okay. The journey is, I mean, the journey is that school, school began and my, my husband has been away for all of the beginning of school. He's [00:04:30] been traveling at conferences, you know, and just when I thought that, you know, things would get easier, hand, foot and mouth attacked our family.

Oof. And it's, it's just, it's just been a lot's and so. Before foot and mouth kind of cascaded, I took the healthy members of our family out apple picking like, you know, far, far away, like away from the New York City metropolis, apple, picking like a little bit further off the beaten path at a place I will not name because we must [00:05:00] protect its peace.

And it was so, it was so lovely. And, and I was, so, my nervous system was just calm, even just being there and I was like, I, I, I need to take my space. My husband is back. He can handle it. I need to take just a couple days. So I took them radically. I'm here, I'm working but I'm working, you know, in nature.

There's a babbling brook outside. There's a flat slab rock in the middle of a river that I'm gonna do yoga on after this. [00:05:30] Yeah. So that nature is, is is bringing me peace and joy right now. Yeah. 

[00:05:38] Chandler Stroud: That is so radical too. Yeah. Because how many times as women do, we say, I just need a couple days away, but we're so scared and feel so guilty asking for that.

But you're gonna come back. Like the best mom ever. So centered, so grounded, so relaxed, like yeah. What a great way to take some time for yourself. [00:06:00] I need a page out of your book. 

[00:06:02] Lexi: Thank you. Yeah. It's on the way to Apple Kipi picking my daughter was like, you okay mom? Aww, you're in a bad mood. And I was like, you're right.

I am in a bad mood. And she was like, you know what, you'll be fine. Once you get to Apple picking, you'll be fine in nature. You're like allergic to the house. I was like, you're right, she's seven. I was like, you're right. Oh gosh. Wow. She has noticed this po I like, you're right. Like I need to sometimes just be outta nature to, to come ground.

[00:06:30] Yeah, exactly. I love that. She inspired me, so I'm, I'm doing it. And I said, thank, good for 

[00:06:34] Chandler Stroud: you. Yeah. 

[00:06:36] Lexi: I love that. And the guilt piece, you know, it's not like that's not there. Of course. I think. That's kind of inevitable. But I'm, every time it comes up I try to just like, and I use those love clients too. I try that guilt is love, right?

And so when I, when I feel that and I have our, I've been here, you know, half a day, I feel that I just try to like send love to my family. Feel it just, 

[00:06:59] Nicole Kim: [00:07:00] yeah. And love. '

[00:07:00] Lexi: cause that's what it is. 

[00:07:02] Nicole Kim: It is. And also think about the energy that you're gonna come back with that recharge, refresh and plan. Be ready to jump in and exactly not be so depleted and yeah, so that's awesome.

[00:07:14] Chandler Stroud: That's so cool. I love that. And I love how you reframed the guilt is love. Mm-hmm. Yeah. I think that's, sometimes that's all we need is a little reframing, right? It can be so powerful. So thank you for sharing that. I'm very excited to get into more of this. But first, Nicole? 

[00:07:29] Nicole Kim: Yes. What's [00:07:30] a 

[00:07:30] Chandler Stroud: grounding practice that's been important for you lately?

[00:07:33] Nicole Kim: Well, it's, you know, kind of piggybacking off of what Lexi said, I'm very similar in my grinding practice where I need to be outside. Absolutely. And so I didn't have my kids this weekend and so I was able to, to do that and go for walks around the beach and just, you know, sit and look at the water and slow down.

And, and sometimes in those moments where I do have free time. I think of all the things I could be doing, all the people I could be seeing, [00:08:00] and I have to stop and pause and be like, wait, what do I need right now? And I really need that quiet time to myself. And so being outside, whether it's on a hike and in the forest, or it's near the water, that is like the most powerful thing for me.

Absolutely 

[00:08:16] Chandler Stroud: love that. Mm-hmm. Gosh, I mean, what? Eight like five star weekends, ladies. Ha. 

[00:08:23] Nicole Kim: Yeah. 

[00:08:23] Chandler Stroud: Good job all around. Okay. Lexi, I'm so excited to hear more about your [00:08:30] journey and what brought you to being here with us today. So before we get into some of the specific questions I have for you and Nicole together.

I'm curious, before Nicole's work became a part of your life Hmm. What did daily life look like or maybe even feel like for you as a mom professional and modern day female wearing multiple hats, balancing so much? 

[00:08:57] Lexi: Yeah, so we, before Nicole, we were kind of a [00:09:00] classic COVID move. So my hus, my family, my son was two weeks old when COVID hit, we were living in Manhattan.

So we moved, you know, we ended up having to move to our town without a lot of planning or agency really. I was still postpartum and not so active in this decision. We lost childcare as everyone did. Right. And we could not work out of our New York City apartment, particularly as a therapist. I need a private space.

Yeah. And so we moved, we thought we would [00:09:30] have to commute to Manhattan, and so I'm not from the Northeast and so postpartum essentially. Kind of like Gabe put the hat on my husband and he said, Westport is a nice town. It's, it's commutable. We're gonna have to commute back. Here we are. And so here we are in this town, not knowing a soul.

We moved here not knowing a pers a single person, both working from home. I was working for the fire department in New York City and now, you know, I [00:10:00] moved to private practice. My husband is working out at the home. And so in the middle of COVID, we're just. Seeing way too much of each other in this new space and not enough of anyone else, right?

Like everyone is masked, no one's really engaging with each other. It was such a bizarre, bizarre time. And so that time, yeah, it's hard to look back on it's, you know, with all the privilege I also have, being able to, to survive, like operate in this space, you know, [00:10:30] still there was a lot of, of balancing the dynamics of.

Home and learning how to share or shoulder, let's be real shoulder, the mental load and take care of these two little kids emotionally, physically, and run a new business. It was a lot. It was, you talked about feeling, my felt sense was that it was really lonely. Really lonely and really isolating and heavy.[00:11:00] 

Yeah, yeah, 

[00:11:00] Chandler Stroud: yeah. I mean, I think that was like collective trauma. If you think back to COVID, just of course, being alive during that time was heavy and lonely. But then to also be physically moving yourself to a new community where the ways you get to engage with these new community members is so limited and almost dangerous.

Right. It's not even that it didn't exist, it would be dangerous. Like that's so hard. And here you are with your kids and I don't [00:11:30] know what your support system looked like at the time, but I've gotta imagine Probably not in Westport with you. 

[00:11:37] Lexi: Right? Yeah. And listen, like if that's our, if that's our COVID trauma, thank God, you know?

Yeah. It's okay. And, and also. It was strange and lonely. And we Right. We didn't have a support system really figuring all of that out. Right? Yeah. And I think, as you know, as a woman, as a mom, unfortunately, stereotypically a lot of that [00:12:00] is, is shouldered by me, right? Figuring out how these two little kids are gonna transition to this space.

Can we get childcare? What does work look like? I don't know. 

[00:12:10] Chandler Stroud: Mm-hmm. 

[00:12:11] Lexi: There's a lot going on. 

[00:12:12] Chandler Stroud: Yeah, that is a lot. That is a lot. Especially again, during a time where we were already juggling a lot individually, but then, you know, to take that on as a parent, wife, et cetera, and professional, I mean, that's, that's certainly a challenge.

And then Lexi, on top of [00:12:30] that, I know you mentioned. When we met prior to this recording that you had dealt with cluster headaches since adolescence. What are cluster headaches and what was it like to live with that condition for most of your life? 

[00:12:44] Lexi: Yeah, so that's such a, I have so much to say and I, and so little to say because it's, it's a part of my life that I don't talk about a lot because I've shouldered through it for so long.

Yeah. So what is cluster headache? Cluster headache is, it's a [00:13:00] neurological disease that they don't really fully, like Western medicine doesn't really fully understand. We know that it has something to do with like a misfiring of a trigeminal nerve. We know it has to do something with a hypothalamus because it's so connected to circadian rhythms, and so it's called like an alarm clock headache, cluster headaches, because the, the way they present the, and folks, the way they of the onset, the way they come is like [00:13:30] a certain time of year.

Usually it's aligned with the seasons. For me, it's usually fall or it's usually spring. And these like groups of headaches come for months. You know, it could be a month. For me, it's usually like three to six months. And then the way that they attack is overnight, typically, and almost at the same time. So for me, it might look like.

11:00 PM 2:00 AM 5:00 AM 7:00 AM or something like that, and the pain is, is excruciating. You know, it's typically [00:14:00] described as like a railroad spike through your eye. It's usually one eye or the other. For me, it's always been the left eye and then the pain radiates kind of to your temple and down your neck.

They're also, you know, to get serious for a second, they're also called suicide headaches because there is. A high rate of suicidality associated with cluster headache. Something like 50% of patients have suicidal ideation. It's not something that I have experienced, but I, I do [00:14:30] understand people lose their jobs because of this condition.

Some people experience it chronically where they have it all the time with some periods of reprieve and other people have it episodically which is how I experience it, where. This cycle will start, you know, I'll have it like once every year, once every two years type of thing, but then for six months, so it's kind of ever, ever present in my life.

[00:14:55] Chandler Stroud: And how long has it been ever present? Like when did this start for you? This sounds [00:15:00] awful. 

[00:15:00] Lexi: I've always been kind of like a, a, a writer and a journaler and it's something I, I talk to my clients a lot about and I have, I came across, I was like digging through, I think it was during COVID actually. I was like digging through my old stuff and my parents' house.

'cause we had to go to my parent. We had to leave New York City and I found a journal entry from when I was 12 that in detail, just categorize just. The whole first episode, so I know I was 12. In my mind, I thought I was like a teenager, like a bit [00:15:30] older, but this was like a, A child. Yeah. Yeah. And it's very, very rare in females and it's very, very rare in people that young.

And so it went undiagnosed for a really long time, and that was its own journey. 

[00:15:46] Chandler Stroud: Yeah, I mean you must have seen so many doctors, I would imagine, and I mean 

[00:15:51] Lexi: so many 

[00:15:51] Chandler Stroud: treatments up the wazoo. I've gotta imagine for something like that. I mean, I don't know. I'll 

[00:15:56] Lexi: Yeah, please 

[00:15:57] Chandler Stroud: like share. I'm just curious, like, 

[00:15:59] Lexi: yeah.

[00:15:59] Chandler Stroud: Did your [00:16:00] parents take you to specialists? Like how do you even begin to diagnose something like that? My 

[00:16:04] Lexi: poor parents, like as a parent now I, so, I so feel for them. But yeah, I, you know, migraines run in my family cluster headache is not migraine, it's. So different, you know? And I think that's part of like the disenfranchised pain and experience that you were speaking to.

That I, that I feel, but I think we assumed it was like a migraine, you know, and a, and a child or in a teenager. But I saw allergists, I saw like the, the [00:16:30] orthodontist. It wasn't TMJ. I got all a bunch of like imaging done of my head, you know, MRIs and cts, and that didn't show anything. And they would throw like.

Opioids at it, right? Like different levels of pain medication for some, you know, for someone who's pretty young. And the, that stuff didn't touch it. And when I started experience it, it wasn't as, as frequently episodic as it is for me now. And so, and it was much less, like I, I'd have a week of it maybe the first time, [00:17:00] and then a year or two later maybe I'd have two weeks of it, you know?

So. There wasn't as much attention on it as, as there is now, where, where it's a lot heavier and longer. Yeah. But we couldn't figure it out and I essentially self-diagnosed myself in college, which, you know, one never wants to have, have to do or maybe should do, but it was also a big learning experience for me and agency and taking the reins and, and yeah, taking control of your own healthcare, because sometimes you have to.[00:17:30] 

Yeah, absolutely. 

[00:17:31] Chandler Stroud: Big proponents of that here on this show, we are all about that. The whole point is empowering women to heal themselves from Yeah. Whatever's there. And then once you had a sense of what it was, what did you do? I mean, how do you start to heal from that? Or at least how did you believe you heal from that based on what you had been taught?

[00:17:51] Lexi: Yeah. That has been a journey, you know, and I think that's really part of why we're here, Nicole, because I, I think, and feel so differently about it now, but if [00:18:00] we're talking about about. Then being like, I have these symptoms. This is it guys. And working with the neurology department. I went to the University of Virginia and they have an incredible health system, right?

It's a teaching hospital. And so I remember being like crying on the phone and like being pulled out of classes. Like, what, what is going on here? Like, it is this right? And like following up with the care there. And so, you know, with that diagnosis, they prescribed me finally, for the first time ever, [00:18:30] the correct things.

Western medicine, and I think it was kind of new at the time, you know, this is almost like I don't wanna age myself. Like 15, 20, 20 years ago they had medicine that can alleviate the pain at onset. Right? So now still and, and it started then or shortly thereafter, like I walk around my life in my purse and backpacks, I have shots and I can give myself these shots at onset of a headache and it will take away the pain within.

10, 20 minutes. Oh wow. You know, [00:19:00] so I've got 20 minutes where I need to, you know, kind of separate myself and hunker down and power through. Then it will go away and I can kind of carry on. Now, the way cluster headache works is that I might have to take like five, 10 shots per day. So I'm having this experience like multiple times per day.

But there is, you know, a Western medication and it does work and it's a triptan and it's, it's great. And other patients can use oxygen therapy. Verapamil, like an old school blood pressure [00:19:30] medication works preventatively for some people. For some people this disease is intractable and it doesn't respond to treatment.

And I've seen my own journey. I mean, with one of my pregnancies, they were like, you're really inching closer to chronic here. And I was like, oh God, that's not, that's so depressing to hear. But it has taken a turn and I do believe, you know, I'm starting to learn. I do believe it's because of some of this natural.

Intuitive stuff. 

[00:19:57] Chandler Stroud: Hmm. 

[00:19:58] Lexi: Nicole, that you've been a part of, [00:20:00] I think without realizing it, I don't even know if we've talked about it much. Not really, but I, yeah. It's like news to you. I think that, yeah. I'm like, oh my God. It, it may or may not be taking a turn. Wow. Because this is the na, it's the way this disease responds to nature, both in its circadian rhythms and its response to.

Like intranasal oils. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Psilocybin. Mm-hmm. You know, the medical community is not gonna love that. It's being researched, but it's not [00:20:30] condoned yet. It's not, there's no seal of approval yet, but it is being researched. These natural interventions are, are, are working. There's something to that.

[00:20:40] Nicole Kim: Yeah, absolutely. 

[00:20:41] Lexi: I feel like I've digressed a lot. No, no, not at all. Not at all. 

[00:20:44] Chandler Stroud: Not at all. This is why we're here. This is why we're here. So we're very pro western medicine, all of that. But like there's so much more that you do to heal the whole self. And just [00:21:00] try to take control back versus relying on medications alone.

Mm-hmm. And that's why I love where you're heading with this conversation, because my follow up question to what you were just saying before was what made you open to exploring yoga or other healing practices at that time? Like you found this amazing medication, obviously it's giving you a little bit of Yeah.

Reprieve peace. Was there a particular moment where you knew you needed something different? 

[00:21:29] Lexi: [00:21:30] Hmm. That's a good question. So yoga's been part of my life for a while. It's something I, I dipped into in, in grad school. Mm-hmm. And, and loved and was immediately drawn, kind of like to hot power yoga. That's my favorite.

And Nicole does that. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And we do that together. I get 

[00:21:47] Chandler Stroud: it. 

[00:21:48] Lexi: Yeah. But 

[00:21:49] Chandler Stroud: totally. 

[00:21:50] Lexi: Honestly, honestly, when we think about thinking outside of the box and starting to think outside of the box again, I think I've had medical professionals for a long time say [00:22:00] like, we don't understand it. These are the things that work.

They're hard on the body. You have to take them. That's it. None of that other stuff works. Or we would all be doing it, you know, we'd be prescribing it to our patients. And I did like when I was younger, in my twenties. Yeah, like dappled in some of those things. I remember being like, this massage, this kind of traditional massage, maybe that will take it away, right?

Maybe this yoga class is gonna gonna take it away, you know, and, and not really seeing success [00:22:30] there. But when we're thinking about Nicole and pursuing, you know, sound and pursuing energy healing and time massage, it's really my connection with Nicole and, and, and. I think experiencing that first hot yoga class with her and, and learn and just feeling connected to her and her energy and knowing that she had these other off offerings.

I was like, yes, I'm, this is I all in? I mean, me too. I [00:23:00] totally get it. Yeah, 

[00:23:01] Chandler Stroud: totally get it. Lexi, this is a great segue. I am so fascinated to hear what struck you most about Nicole's teaching style or energy when you did meet her for the first time. 

[00:23:14] Lexi: Yeah, so, so many things, you know, over overall it's, it's hard to pinpoint, you know, I would say it's, it's.

Her sounds so cliche, but it is your energy, Nicole, and it is the, the entire experience, but there's so many pieces of [00:23:30] it, you know, walking in feeling so welcome. I was like pregnant. Not everyone is okay with that. Obs aren't gonna like it. It's not, this is against medi medical advice, but she was welcoming, you know, and supports my choice and my agency.

The sequence, you know, the beauty of the sequence and the intentionality that Nicole brings to class, you know, everything builds up to a peak pose and it's so fun and it's so playful. Your voice. You know, [00:24:00] and, and the meditations that you bring. Don't get me started on the Sound Bowl. I have a story to tell you about the Sound Bowl.

Yeah, 

[00:24:07] Chandler Stroud: please share. Nicole. We love a good sound Bowl story on this show, Nicole. 

[00:24:10] Lexi: So Nicole brings her bowl to, to every class. It's never not there. And there was this one day. I dunno if you guys have discussed this story on the podcast at all, but I was, I was in class for, have you talked about it? 

[00:24:23] Nicole Kim: No. I kind of think I know where you're going with this.

[00:24:26] Chandler Stroud: I've heard this story, but yes, please keep going there. 

[00:24:29] Lexi: [00:24:30] Just the dedication to the bowl. There was one day where there was some sort of like really awful dramatic accident, I believe. Mm-hmm. On the highway. Yes, the bridge fire. A bridge fire, and the whole town and the surrounding towns, Fairfield County just shut down.

Like traffic was not moving, not moving anywhere. 

[00:24:50] Chandler Stroud: I remember that morning by the grace 

[00:24:51] Lexi: of something like I got to Nicole's class on time and I see her. Running up just like the entrance to class and [00:25:00] on foot. And she's got her like bowl and, and Nicole ended up, and Nicole ended up like parking her car Miles away from, yeah, from the studio.

Parked her car on the, I believe Nicole, correct me if I'm wrong. Yes, yes. Parking on the side of the road and like. And running our bowl and ran and made it to class on time, you know, and the meditation was something beautiful about like, you never know what's gonna happen and you know, here we are just staying flexible and rolling with, rolling with it.

And I was like, I would never grab my [00:25:30] bowl if I had to run a couple miles. I'd be like leaving everything in, in the car, just bringing the person. Very nice. Yeah. But, but for her, the, in the bowl and it is, it, I, I'm remembering my first class with her being like, oh, this is. Yes, this is, this is so good.

This is mm-hmm. She always says like, I, I'm grounding the energy in the room. I'm gonna play my bowl to ground the energy in the room at the start and at the finish. And it does do that. And I think, you know, to the, to the untuned or casual [00:26:00] participant's, like, great. But actually it does, she, it not it, she in the bowl grounds the energy in the room and it is so beautiful.

And I understand after. Getting to know her and, you know, being such an avid participant of all her mm-hmm. All her offerings, how critical that bowl was like of course, of course she took it. Yeah. And that dedication, you know, and it is part of what makes her so, so special.

[00:26:27] Chandler Stroud: I totally agree. And just [00:26:30] to build on that, Lexi, that's such 

[00:26:31] Lexi: a funny day.

[00:26:33] Chandler Stroud: I like could, I would paint Well, I, 

[00:26:34] Nicole Kim: I wanna, I have to paint a picture for a moment because I had hot pink pants on and Yes. You know, and I, and I jump outta my car and I'm running and students were actually driving, right? Yeah. Stuck in the traffic in late and, and they started to come in like, we saw you running with a bowl.

Oh 

[00:26:51] Chandler Stroud: my gosh. You guys, these bowls are heavy, right? Nicole? They're ceramic, they're heavy, right? No, they're, 

[00:26:56] Nicole Kim: they're crystal. Yeah, they're crystal. Oh, right. You're crystal bowls. Mm-hmm. [00:27:00] I mean, these things are so 

[00:27:01] Chandler Stroud: heavy. I cannot believe you grabbed It's funny and ran. 

[00:27:04] Lexi: Yeah. But I can though. That's, I know that's, you can, like, you can't believe it about it, but you can.

Yeah. And that's so amazing. And I think I've said to you before Chandler, that it's, it really is the whole. Energy and the intention that Nicole sets in the space, I, without, I don't even know if you intend to do it or if it is just natural, like coming from your body and your [00:27:30] soul, but like there are yoga teachers and then there are healers and my healers and my sense was that when I first took your class, like, oh, this is one of those, like she is one of those, she's a healer and that's what I'm so drawn to and I would like go to the moon and back.

With you, if that was an offering, you know, like I, I'd probably just do it 'cause it's, it's a privilege to be around that wholesomeness, that goodness. 

[00:27:58] Chandler Stroud: What felt different about [00:28:00] Nicole as a healer compared to other teachers you had had? And to build on that, I would love if you could share a moment maybe in yoga sound healing, or in Thai body work where you realized that this was more than just a class and it was something deeper for you.

[00:28:16] Lexi: Oh, I have so much to say there. So in terms of being a healer and not a teacher, you know, if, and, and you, and of course you are both, you know, I've experienced this, I feel like only, only once before I know two magical beings in my [00:28:30] life and you're, you're one of them. And it's not something I know that you can codify or like qualify specifically.

It's just that when you are open to that receiving that. You are giving it, and I think you give it to everyone. It's something that you have to, I think, hold on, I'm getting emotional. Something that you have to hold onto. Right. So it's not you're not an object. Like I'm not, I'm not, that makes you sound like an [00:29:00] object that I wanna, like latch onto, but like, I would latch onto in, in, in a, in a barnacle way because it's, it's just that.

Everything you offer from yoga, from sound, from intuitive healing, massage is all infused, I think with this like, I don't know how to describe it, but this, this inner projection of like love and goodness and light. Intention, I think, and I think the intention piece, as you've [00:29:30] all had talked about before, is something that separates kind of like an athletic yoga class from a more wholesome yoga class or a standard massage with a masseuse from a Thai massage.

Right. I can speak to one moment. It's really fresh in my mind because it was very recent fall is when my, my cluster headaches typically start to to emerge and present themselves. IU there's usually a sign I can usually feel my head being off in a way [00:30:00] it's hard to describe but it's failing off. And so, you know, after a yoga class I was like, Nicole, we need, I gotta, I gotta get in there.

And I think that we chose Thai body work versus intuitive healing, I think just for our schedules or something. Yeah. And so we did, we scheduled a, a time massage and it was wonderful. You're talking about a moment where I know that it's deeper and I know that it's something more than just kind of the surface or standard.

I remember this one moment, we were like maybe halfway through, we were transitioning from lying like on my back to then, you know, [00:30:30] the next part of it was lying on my stomach. And I remember Nicole had her hands, she had her hands on maybe like my ankles or my calves or something like that, and I felt this incredible wave wash over me.

I wanna call it love. And that's what I told you. And maybe it is that the like, love and warmth and goodness, I don't know. It, it was so clear, so [00:31:00] palpable. It was really special. I remember we kind of like stayed in that almost for a moment and then we turned over and we kind of continued. But I shared it with you at the end and you were like, yeah, that's what that was.

[00:31:15] Nicole Kim: That's what that was. And I do energy work. And it's been such a great compliment to that energy work because you're actually working physically. And so when I feel energy blockages or builds, then I will [00:31:30] pause and stay there. And that's what she was referring to as I was just. Allowing, opening up and moving the energy and, you know, the intention is always love, light, lightness healing.

And so she was feeling everything that I was sending her and that was, you know, a release at that moment. 

[00:31:48] Chandler Stroud: Yeah, I bet. Yeah. Thank you for sharing that. That's a beautiful moment. And just like a really important kind of, I would say, reaffirmation of why it's so [00:32:00] important to connect with the people you choose to help you heal.

Yeah, I think it's so. Important. We talk about that all the time, but like moments like that, like that's where the real magic is. And you can only really experience that if you're connected to the other person and feel safe with them. Mm-hmm. So, yeah. I love that you shared that. Thank you, Nicole. Yeah. And, oh, go ahead.

[00:32:24] Lexi: No, I was just gonna say that's, there's so many moments that's just, and there's so many moments that I can't really [00:32:30] explain around. Yeah. Healing with Nicole. So that's, there are just so many. 

[00:32:36] Chandler Stroud: My second thought co-sign as Kate says, yes. Hi, Nicole. Hearing Lexi describe all of that, what stood out to you about what she was carrying or needing in her journey to heal when you first met her?

[00:32:51] Nicole Kim: Well, I didn't look at her in that way. The moment that I met Lexi, I just saw sunshine and she's just such a bright. Beautiful [00:33:00] human on the inside and out. And so I was naturally drawn to her and to her energy too. You know, it's mutual, mutual exchange. You know, I was, I was inspired by her and coming in and being pregnant, and I.

You know, it's not that it's a bad thing to do that in the hot room. If you have an active practice and, and it's not something that's new to you and you're in, in that shape where you're used to being in the heat, then it's a perfectly safe thing to do as long as you're [00:33:30] listening to your body. And so to see her there, for me, I wasn't able to do that.

I, I had to stop at like 12 weeks. Being pregnant, I couldn't bend over. And so anytime I see someone who can practice, I am so proud of them. And I think that it's incredible. And so to be a part of that journey and to help support her and to maintain that practice, which is so incredibly important, was, was just an honor.

And so I started to get to know her better just through those moments. And you know, Lexi has a absolutely [00:34:00] beautiful practice. She's strong and she's able to do so many incredible things. And she was in inversions at. When, like toward the end, very end. Yeah. So she, she was very inspirational and, and I still will when I have a new student come in who's pregnant and Lexi happens to be there, I'll always introduce and be like, look, you know, she did it until the very, very end.

And you have to just listen to your body and know what, what's right for you. So it's been such a pleasure to be able [00:34:30] to work with Lexi and, and, you know, through yoga. Then it just evolved into, I think she came to one of my sound baths and then, yeah, and, you know, then came for an intuitive session and, and then, and then body work.

And so it's just sort of I'll piggybacked off of each other that. Yeah, I know. Again, she's bright and smiley no matter what she's going through. You wouldn't know that she was suffering through these, these cluster headaches if, you know, she doesn't say it like you wouldn't know because she's just carries [00:35:00] herself so well with such positive energy.

[00:35:03] Chandler Stroud: I can attest to that actually, Nicole, because I obviously was able to meet Lexi before we started recording today, and immediately I was like, this woman is so peaceful. I just, your voice is so calming and your presence is so light and joyful. Not just like happy. Happy is different. It's joyful. I can't, yeah.

Quite put my, my finger on it, but you really also exude an energy, Lexi that you should know. Mm-hmm. Is [00:35:30] just very calming. Thank you. I'm sure you're excellent at what you do. Yep. Thank you. Nicole. How do you think the blend of yoga, sound healing, and Thai bodywork supported Lexi specifically throughout her journey and in your time together?

[00:35:46] Nicole Kim: Yeah, I think that it's a nice release for her, you know, when we all are stressed out and managing a lot to, to take those time out, to move your body and to really be connected with your body to [00:36:00] know what is it that I need. I mean, she's taken that time right now to be in this cabin in the woods because she knew that she needed that.

And so she's very in touch with herself and has applied the modalities that work most appropriately. And so, you know. Getting out in the afternoon to come and take a afternoon class in between clients to get that recharge is so necessary. And then when she feels the sensations of her brain sort of being off and like, Ooh, maybe I need to move some energy in a restorative way and [00:36:30] get some high body work and maybe, you know, my mind is just a little busy right now and I wanna have a grounding practice of, of sound.

And so she's been, yeah. Like so intelligent in the way that she's integrated the practices. I've just been there to offer them for her. But yeah, I think they've, they've been helpful and, and I think, you know, again, it's just really understanding yourself. But these practices help you understand yourself.

They help you connect with yourself and listen and find that peace. And then when you start to feel [00:37:00] off, you're able to identify it quickly. I think. Lexi, I'm not sure when that that started for you and, and observing the sensation in your head of like, Ooh, it's about time I can feel it's going to happen.

So what do I need to do right now to prevent it or to support myself? And, and so, you know, you can speak to that more, but maybe, maybe some of the practices have helped you to be more in touch with your body with those early warning signs. 

[00:37:29] Lexi: [00:37:30] I don't think that Nicole, I've shared this with you and I, I don't think I even realized myself until kind of like thinking about this call and looking through, you know, my past or over the past year and I, I have to keep, you know, a pretty detailed headache diary, you know, to present to the neurologist around the last time I had a headache, so on and so forth.

And what triggered it when I'm done. But the first time the, you know, we started with yoga, Nicole was getting. Trained in tie body work and was like [00:38:00] offering, you know, subsidized free massages. And I'm like, how I'm pregnant. How many can I get? Nicole, how many will you let me? How many can I have? Yeah. Which kind of, you know, natural and I did sound healing as soon as I heard you were doing sound healing events.

Don't always be there for that. They're so. Calming. The first time ever I have done energy work was this time last year when I did feel what you're talking about, which is this kind of like prickly, this kind of just off sensation in my head. Mm-hmm. Where I know like, [00:38:30] that's gonna happen for a couple weeks and then it's gonna like, like takes off and they get really intense and there's a peak and then months later they'll come down.

I said, okay. Like I came to Nicole and I was like, we've done time massage, we've done sound. I have something that I really need to heal, I believe, and so can we do energy work? And you were like, yes, by all means, let's do that. Then I remember coming into your space and being like really eager to tell you about it, and you were [00:39:00] like, I want to hear nothing.

I wanna hear nothing. I think you knew it was a headache type thing. I just wanna get started. And so I didn't tell Nicole what side it was on, or what it felt like, or how often it happened or anything. And lo and behold, like in instinctively, immediately, Nicole's working on more of like the left side of, of my body.

I remember, it's been a year, but I, I [00:39:30] remember, I wish I like journaled about it or something, but I didn't, but I remember much like a couple weeks ago where I had this like big release, this like feeling of love. I remember like a release of energy on my left side, just, just like halfway through the session, maybe towards the end of session.

You can't explain those things, Nicole just. Nose those things, or those are just the things that happen without any direction. You know, I was [00:40:00] checking my log before this call, and I remember I, I went to also like a women's retreat right after this one. That was also lovely and had, you know, healing elements in it too.

But I didn't get, it did not start, like the cluster did not start. Hmm. Wow. It didn't go away. It, it started like in December, but in December I also didn't follow up with Nicole and be like, I need more energy sessions. Like, let's schedule it, you know, let's make it, you know, [00:40:30] this seems to have been really impactful.

Let's, let's see what's hap, let's going on here. Let's see what's happening. It just happened and, you know, I, it, it wasn't the worst one. It was kind of like. A tempered one, actually, like very softened. And I used, you know, all the kind of like non-Western modalities that I, I know how to use now, all the western ones, but I, I never put two and two together until this call today that, like I saw Nicole in October when it [00:41:00] was starting.

It did not start for months, for like two months. Wow.

[00:41:06] Chandler Stroud: That's incredible. And like, 

[00:41:06] Lexi: gave me goose and like, gave me goosebumps and it's like, okay, this is where I am. This is like the new mindset that I have, I think is like, you know, and I don't know if Nicole even like, wants to be a healer in this way.

It's like designed to like, heal all of our medical chronic, you know, conditions. Sorry, Nicole, but totally put that on you right 

[00:41:26] Chandler Stroud: now. I'll be calling you after this episode, [00:41:30] 

[00:41:30] Lexi: but it's like, what is here, right? And this is where I am, where it's like it now, now is the time I think. To, to understand, you know, that there are elements of this disease and of many diseases, both mental and physical, that we just don't, we don't have really the capacity to name or medicalize or understand.

And so how, how can we be open to receiving and open to exploring other ways of, I think that's what's important. Tackling, yeah, just finding, finding 

[00:41:58] Nicole Kim: other ways to support or [00:42:00] having lots of ways to come at it. Yeah. 

[00:42:06] Chandler Stroud: Couldn't agree more. Mm. Couldn't agree more. Which is why we talk about all of these things.

Yeah. 'cause I think so often, I think so often women turn to them as like, I'm at the end of my rope. I've tried everything, but like, what if we incorporate it sooner? Right? What if we are told that these things can support you in your day to day? And we [00:42:30] find whatever feels authentic to us earlier. So that we don't have to reach the end of our rope.

I think that's so meaningful for women to not get to a point where they feel like they've lost hope and nothing's gonna work. And you know, to some degree, I love the open-mindedness that comes with that, but like, let's do it sooner. 

[00:42:50] Lexi: Yeah. 

[00:42:50] Chandler Stroud: You know, Nicole, from your vantage point, what's been most powerful about watching Lexi's transformation?

[00:42:58] Nicole Kim: I don't know if there's one [00:43:00] thing in particular, but I think that it's her curiosity to not give up and motivation to keep moving through things. So she encounters a challenge. And she is always looking for that solution. And whether it's, you know, being able to practice more or being open to receiving other things and being open to receiving is really where it comes down to.

Like she has benefited from her experience with me [00:43:30] because she is open, she's trusting, and she's ready to receive with that mindset. No matter what will come her way, she's going to be able to get through it. Stronger and better and learn from those experiences. So yeah, I'm not sure if there's one thing in particular that's okay.

[00:43:50] Chandler Stroud: That's okay. 

[00:43:51] Nicole Kim: Yeah. I'm excited to meet with you again, Lexi. 'cause there's a lot of questions that I have like in working with you of, of certain things that we can [00:44:00] tackle together and, you know, I just hearing that for the first time and, and that the energy had had been so helpful. I think there's, there's so much that we can do with that and, you know, thank you for sharing that.

It's incredible to, to hear those stories.

[00:44:15] Chandler Stroud: And Nicole, to your point of questions, I mean, I've been hogging the mic the whole episode, but I would love to open it up and let you ask Lexi any questions you have. 

[00:44:25] Nicole Kim: So, Lexi, you've, you've gone through so much with, you know, these headaches and this [00:44:30] experience.

What modality has helped you the most, or what have you felt that it's been the most helpful when navigating these challenges? 

[00:44:39] Lexi: It's so hard. It's so hard to pick one, because yoga always feels like a rinse. You know? I always feel like a million bucks after yoga and sound. I feel. So peaceful. Yeah. And so blessed out and so calm that I think the energy work I, I am realizing has mm-hmm.

I think had the greatest [00:45:00] impact. Like, I, I am ready to like unpeel all of those layers. Yeah. And see, see what's there. Like what is going on there. I am, I feel kind of like bewildered and, and wonder, and I haven't done much of that. Like I've had one session with you ever really? And a lot of, like, there's more, there, like a lot of.

Fun, powerful things. Yeah. Came out of that session, 

[00:45:24] Chandler Stroud: Nicole, for women listening who are curious about yoga, sound healing, T body work, or [00:45:30] even energy healing, but maybe feel intimidated by some of these practices, what's one first step that you'd recommend? 

[00:45:38] Nicole Kim: Well, they're all so different. Yeah, so choosing one specifically that they're most interested in.

And so if it would be were yoga, it would be to sign up for a basics yoga class and to go and to learn the poses so that they can walk into any class and be familiar with what to [00:46:00] expect. When it comes to a sound healing, maybe. Scheduling a, a private healing or going to a smaller group setting. So I have one coming up this week that I typically have big events, but I have a much smaller one on Wednesday that I'm excited about.

And so choosing a sound experience in a more intimate setting, you know, maybe asking the host how many people typically attend and, and then that could feel less intimidating and high body work, choosing someone that [00:46:30] you connect with as long as you feel safe and you connect with your. Practitioner, then you're gonna have a great experience.

If you don't know the person or you don't vibe with them energetically, then it might feel a little awkward. So, you know, meeting your practitioner, getting to know them and having a connection with 'em, then you'll have a wonderful experience. 

[00:46:51] Chandler Stroud: And I think what you said at the beginning was really important about you don't have to go out and do all of these things.

This is just supposed to be educational, to expose women, our listeners, [00:47:00] to what's out there that they can try. So I love what you said about kind of feel into what. Feels authentic for you. What are you most interested in and comfortable with? I think that's a really important place to start and do some Googling, you know, chat, GPT.

Like you can ask whatever questions, like I use it all the time. It's so helpful. If you're not sure where to begin, I also would think would be a good place. So thank you for sharing all that though. That's really helpful. Really helpful. [00:47:30] Lexi, if you could go back and tell your younger self one thing back when you were dealing with the regular headaches, and of course the stress that I know still remains as a mom, a working mom, and just trying to hold it all together.

What would you tell her? Now? 

[00:47:47] Lexi: I see her so clearly. I feel for her. 'cause I think she, she had no idea what. What was gonna happen, like what was, what this was gonna be. But you know, I think whether it's a chronic illness or just the, [00:48:00] the heaviness of being a woman or being a parent, you know, in the society we're in, I think what I would tell her is two things.

Two things like one, take the reins. You need to fight for yourself and your what you want and your wellness, you know, and don't be scared. And I think I did learn that, but everyone should learn that, you know, young. And two, like when it's overwhelming and you get to a hopeless place because [00:48:30] in the, the peak of cluster headache, when it's been bad, I have experienced that hopelessness.

How am I gonna go on, how can I possibly handle this right? And I would tell her that like you will find your people who your, you know, your friends and your family, and you will find teachers and healers. That will like walk this path with you and that will hold your hand and be there with you and help you.

And that takes away the hopelessness, you know, that makes you feel like, [00:49:00] okay, thought that's someone in my corner this. 

[00:49:05] Chandler Stroud: Yeah. Yeah, you do. Nicole, Lexi, thank you so much. I am so, so grateful for your time and your willingness to just be vulnerable and share your stories. So thank you very much for your time today.

I think we, as women, take on so much. You referenced the mental load up front, Lexi, which is such a real [00:49:30] thing for so many women. And just hearing your journey back to this newfound kind of peace and presence has been really inspiring. So thank you for being willing to come on and share it with all of our listeners.

Thank 

[00:49:44] Nicole Kim: you, Lexi. You're amazing. Thank you. Thank you. 

[00:49:48] Lexi: Likewise, all of you. Yep. Thank you so much. It's a pleasure. Anything I can do to add to this chorus of Nicole, right? Like I, I will sing, you know, [00:50:00] I will add to it. 

[00:50:01] Chandler Stroud: I love that this chorus of Nicole, it is chorus.

Oh, you look beautiful, Nicole, as always. As always, and to our listeners, if you enjoyed today's conversation, please share it with a friend and don't forget to follow the show on your favorite podcast platform. You can also visit healing heroes podcast.com to learn more about the show and our heroes, as well as suggest topics [00:50:30] that you'd like us to cover off on in the future.

Thanks for listening, everyone, and until next time, remember. Be curious, be courageous, and be kind to yourself. You've got this.